The U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantee all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury. Justice ultimately depends to the large measure upon the quality of the jurors who serve in our courts.

You were selected at random by computer from a list of voter registrations, driver registrations, and identification cards from the county in which you live. The list is compiled every 3 years by the Secretary of State.

Cases will usually be heard by juries of 6 or 12 jurors. The larger group, called a panel, will be sent to the trial court (courtroom) where the jurors will be questioned under the supervision of the judge. A juror may be excused from the panel if it is shown that the juror cannot act impartially concerning the case to be heard or is otherwise disqualified. In addition, each side is allowed to remove a given number of jurors from the panel without having to show any reason. The trial jury will be the first 6 or 12 of the remaining jurors on the panel.

It is a way for the parties to select a fair and impartial jury. Under the justice system, you may be questioned by each of the lawyers before they decide to remove a certain number of jurors from the jury panel.

For example, the lawyer may ask you questions to see if you are connected to the trial or if you have any prejudice or bias toward anyone in the trial. These questions are not intended to embarrass you, but rather to help the lawyers in the jury selection process. You may ask the judge to allow you to answer some questions away from the other jurors.

On the day that you appear for jury duty you may obtain an excuse that will show the time actually spent on jury duty. If you are not selected for a jury and your service was at the McLennan County Courthouse, then you obtain your excuse from the District Clerk’s Office. If you serve on a jury, your excuse will be provided by the court administrator. If you report for a jury panel out of the main courthouse, your excuse will be provided by the court you report to.

A criminal case results when a person is accused of committing a crime. You, as a juror, must decide whether the person charged is guilty or not guilty. The accused person is presumed innocent, and the State of Texas, represented by the District or County Attorney, must prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

A civil case results from a disagreement or dispute between 2 or more parties. In a civil case, you, as a juror, must answer questions of disputed facts based upon the testimony and evidence admitted by the judge. The answers to these questions are called the verdict.